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Cancelations in ABA therapy are bound to happen. As we all know, life gets a bit chaotic at times! Often, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder receive anywhere from 20-40 hours of ABA therapy a week, which means there are times when treatment will have to be postponed, cut short, or canceled altogether. Unfortunately, this can also lead to incomplete services, which can be detrimental. While understandably, families go on fabulous vacations, kids get sick, and rescheduling does happen if cancelations in ABA become a reoccurring trend in your loved one’s ABA course of treatment; it can become problematic for various reasons.
In some cases, cancelations in ABA can result in increases in maladaptive behavior or inconsistencies and setbacks in progress. It is essential to understand that ABA therapy is medically necessary for those living with autism and should be treated just like any other medical appointment. Additionally, the necessities required for access to ABA demonstrate just how critical this care is to those receiving it, including referrals and various medical documentation, and parents should always keep these considerations in mind. In most cases, cancelations in ABA sessions can also lead to costly fees when clients don’t cancel ABA sessions within company cancelation windows, which, for many ABA agencies and providers, is 48 hours.
On a more practical level, if an ABA clinic cannot fulfill therapeutic sessions, it cannot keep its doors open. Furthermore, insurance companies may begin to reassess or deny coverage claims if they start to suspect the hours may not be a medical necessity, which may occur if cancelations are constant. Unfortunately, there is no uncomplicated answer to the problem of cancelations in ABA, and the consequences can be tricky. However, there are a few steps parents and guardians can take to minimize the impact of cancelations in ABA on symptom management in regard to autism.
This blog by ABA Centers of America will discuss the importance of attending ABA sessions and ways to avoid cancelations. Ultimately, ABA therapy is essential for many children and teenagers with autism in order to acquire the crucial independent living skills they need to experience better days today and in later adulthood.
So, keep reading to learn more about ways to avoid cancelations in ABA, so your child can get better long-term results with ABA therapy!
Click here for more information about ABA Centers of America or to read other thoughtful autism and ABA blogs.
7 Things to Consider Before Canceling ABA Sessions
1. Negative Impact on the Child’s Development.
According to Autism Speaks, ABA therapy can address many complex features of autism that can hinder development. However, it also requires commitment and dedication from both the child and their families, including the understanding that missing ABA sessions can adversely affect a child’s progress and development, making it essential to make every effort to attend each ABA session.
The individualized nature of ABA therapy means every ABA session caters explicitly to meeting the child’s needs by evaluating data from previous sessions. If a child cancels an ABA session, they may miss vital instruction and practice time, which can prolong gaps in treatment and worsen these outcomes in ASD. In most cases, ABA sessions occur weekly, making even one miss critical at times.
Additionally, ABA therapy often relies heavily on various techniques that build upon each other and utilize tools like visual supports, i.e., flashcards and picture schedules, to optimize learning and comprehension. Missing ABA therapy can disrupt the flow of processing visual information, making it more difficult for the child to learn, remember, and generalize their new skills.
2. Regression in Progress.
ABA therapy typically involves a series of one-on-one sessions between a child and an ABA professional like an RBT (registered behavior technician) or BCBA (board-certified behavior analyst). However, missing ABA sessions can disrupt the rapport established between these providers and their clients. In some cases, this disconnect can lead to regression in skillsets and destructive behavior like running out of the room when the ABA provider enters or shutting down before sessions.
Furthermore, regression in ABA can happen because each ABA session expands upon the one that came before, and interruptions can make it difficult for the child to catch up.
For example, when learning conversational skills, practicing greeting friends, considering the interests of others, and working on more appropriate responses gradually, it is essential to practice these tasks in different environments and with various friends to ensure they are clearly available. When not practiced or oriented systematically, these skills can be more complex to retain or apply.
When a child with autism misses an ABA session, they may not be able to practice the skills they have learned and may forget some of their previously known behaviors. As a result, concepts may need repeating and relearning, which can be frustrating, repetitive, and boring for the child.
Attending ABA sessions as scheduled helps prevent regression and ensures that the neurodivergent child continues to make progress. Additionally, missing sessions can cause setbacks in behavior modification that may require more time and effort to correct.
3. Missing Insights and Feedback.
ABA therapy is an essential tool for helping children with autism learn new skills and progress on their level. However, if sessions are canceled or missed, it can be difficult for therapists to provide valuable insights or feedback on progress. Data can go undocumented when there is a string of cancelations and opportunities to record new findings are lost.
Missing data points can lead to a lack of clarity and difficulty managing behavioral programs. It’s critical to be diligent about your child’s attendance to ensure all their ABA programs run as effectively as possible. Before or when implementing an ABA cancelation, be sure to discuss any behavior changes with providers at their session to ensure everyone is on the same page and can resume ABA effectively.
4. Routine Makes a Difference
Establishing a routine can be helpful and promote regularly attending ABA as it becomes an ordinary and expected aspect of each week. Parents should avoid cancelations, if possible, as disruptions to their schedule can make it very difficult for children and teens with ASD to maintain learning. Ultimately, when families recognize ABA therapy as a medical necessity for autism and give it the same priority as any other essential medical appointment, cancelations occur, and progress generally improves.
5. Consistency and Follow-through
For ABA professionals to provide effective therapy, providers, and parents must maintain a consistent schedule, meaning it is vital that they are punctual for appointments and follow through on their ABA course, even when it isn’t convenient. Furthermore, ABA sessions should occur regularly at the same time and for the same duration. This consistency is important because it helps create a routine for the child that can be calming and reassuring.
Moreover, unexpected changes to the schedule or lack of consistency in regimens can provoke a child with autism to experience more stress due to variables, including social interactions with peers, groups, and other professionals, to name a few, which can be upsetting.
Lastly, following through with ABA therapy sessions demonstrates to the child that there are folks committed to helping them, which can build trust and more willingness to engage with others.
When cancelations occur, therapists should aim to reschedule the session as soon as possible to minimize the disruption to the child’s treatment plan. By consistently following through with appointments, ABA providers can help ensure that children receive the full benefit of ABA therapy each session.
6. Children May Feel Left Out.
Missing ABA therapy sessions can be disruptive for children with autism in various ways. Not only do cancelations affect developmental progress, but they can also lead them to feel they are missing out on the chance to learn and practice essential skills. Over time, this practice can increase their peer engagement and capacity for connecting with others. Missing ABA sessions can make those receiving care feel their peers are leaving them behind developmentally.
When children with autism feel left out, it can further complicate their ability to communicate and cooperate with others, negatively affecting their ability to practice, establish, and cultivate relationships and, in some cases self, self-regulate.
7. Providers Will Work with Your Schedule.
Families shouldn’t have to stress about cancelations because BCBAs and RBTs typically aim to work with them to ensure their child still gets the necessary treatment. Sometimes, delaying a session for just a few hours or changing the time can prevent a total cancelation, so it’s vital to communicate and explore your options.
Handling Cancelations in ABA Therapy Can Be Manageable
For the child’s personal growth in ABA, both parents and providers must be on the same page regarding the client’s ABA therapy goals. Being consistent and clearly communicating with providers is a massive aspect of anyone’s success with any therapy plan. If a cancelation is unavoidable, notify your child’s ABA provider as early as you can to ensure you make up the time in a suitable time frame.
The bottom line is cancelations in ABA and other autism services are, at times, inevitable. Fortunately, they don’t have to be disastrous or continuous. In fact, with communication, consideration, and cooperation from all parties, it is possible to ensure that ABA therapy sessions remain effective, even when life gets in the way and sometimes cancelations occur.
Ultimately, caregivers should avoid cancelations in ABA whenever possible, as they can derail the child’s progress and make it more strenuous for them to reach their full potential. Still, with careful planning, it’s possible to avoid.
Finally, remember that when scheduling conflicts arise, communication and understanding are critical to ensuring the best outcomes possible. Best of luck on your family’s ABA journey!
ABA Therapy And ABA Centers of America
At ABA Centers of America, we commit to providing top-tier ABA care because we know these services make a massive difference in individual’s lives. We serve the autism community in areas including regions like New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
We recognize that attending ABA therapy can be challenging at times. Still, it’s essential to stick with it to give your child or teen with autism the best possible opportunity for a successful future.
If you are interested in learning more about our autism treatment options, call us at (844) 923-4222 or contact us via this online link.
Remember, cancelations don’t have to lead to setbacks in ABA. Let’s work together to ensure they don’t.
